The TR-8S lets you build out your rhythm tracks further by mixing and layering in sampled sounds. Load your own custom samples via SD card slot or pull from an extensive collection of detailed and nuanced stereo presets. You can create a kit entirely from samples or mix-and-match with TR sounds.

Once you’ve got your kit built and samples loaded its time for some effects. Each channel has a customizable CTRL knob that lets you change parameters like a kick drum's decay and tuning or a sample's playback rate and stereo spread without diving into a menu screen. Add some ambiance with reverb and delay sends including panning and tape echo sounds. Polish off the overall sound of your kit with Master FX like flanging, phasing, and sideband filters.

Roland shaped the connectivity of the new TR-8S based on feedback from artists and performers worldwide. Send individual sounds out to external effects or mixers via eight analog outputs, control external instruments with a dedicated trigger out or even use the TR-8S as a multi-channel audio and MIDI interface via USB.

Explore more of the TR-8S features with this deep dive courtesy of Roland’s Peter Brown: